Share your D&D OA 4 4

[exitmusicblue]

Update: This thread still kickin' for over a year. There's a lot of good art herein, enjoy!

 

Two folders full -

https://www.comicartfans.com/galleryroom.asp?gsub=219187

https://www.comicartfans.com/galleryroom.asp?gsub=194413

Edited February 19, 2023 by exitmusicblue

[Wolvie_Fan]

Love s and D art

 

Edited July 7, 2023 by Wolvie_Fan

[Drummy]

That's cool stuff -- where do you find paintings like these?  Auction houses or other websites?

Dan

[Randall Dowling]

I really wish I could put my hands on some of Jeff Dee's original art from the modules and manuals in the late 70s, early 80s.  But from what I understand it's all missing/destroyed.  

[batman_fan]

On 1/22/2022 at 9:25 PM, Randall Dowling said:

I really wish I could put my hands on some of Jeff Dee's original art from the modules and manuals in the late 70s, early 80s.  But from what I understand it's all missing/destroyed.  

That is sad to hear.  I would love to own this one.

[cstojano]

Ha, this is most certainly a fishing expedition ;)

Lack of replies is telling, not much floating in the marketplace and those holding are clearly smart in not posting lest they want an inbox of inquiries. I remember a few years back someone posted a load of Elmore interiors to the Dragonlance modules on CAF. They were pretty quickly removed (and sold I am told to The Whale).

I think for many who grew up in the 70s and 80s these early, simpler module and rulebook pieces have tremendous nostalgia. Awesome as they are, peak awesome, for me, is the Dragonlance work by Elmore. Willingham's particular black and white interiors were also quite amazing. 

[-m]

I have the Gelatinous Cube from Monster Manual 2nd edition, plus a bunch of other monsters, and a Ravenloft cover prelim.

Here's the cube, and I will take a look for some more scans.

 

[comix4fun]

Yeah, this stuff isn't easy. Finding things pre '92-93 is not easy and pre-'85 is pretty tough, pre-'80 is hard enough to make you wanna give up. 

I've picked up some TSR pieces and D&D "adjacent" pieces over the years.  

This is one of the monsters from the "Ruins of Undermountain" boxed set from 1991 by Ed Greenwood: 

This is a really early piece from TSR's Polyhedron Magazine...1982 by Bob Walters

 

[Randall Dowling]

I read years ago (I forget where) that the early days of TSR were a bit... disorganized.  And the artists would send their work in and it was put into a closet in the offices in Lake Geneva, WI.  At some point they moved and apparently cleaned house.  It's assumed that someone cleared out the art for artists that didn't insist on getting it back.  And by cleared out, it's assumed to have been put in the garbage.

I seem to remember Jeff Dee recounting this in one of his kickstarter campaigns to recreate the original work.  I'm sure there's someone out there that knows better than I but this is just my recollection.

Still, there's enough uncertainty about the specifics that one day, someone's grandkids could show up with it all.  Who knows?  

[comix4fun]

On 1/23/2022 at 6:50 PM, Randall Dowling said:

I read years ago (I forget where) that the early days of TSR were a bit... disorganized.  And the artists would send their work in and it was put into a closet in the offices in Lake Geneva, WI.  At some point they moved and apparently cleaned house.  It's assumed that someone cleared out the art for artists that didn't insist on getting it back.  And by cleared out, it's assumed to have been put in the garbage.

I seem to remember Jeff Dee recounting this in one of his kickstarter campaigns to recreate the original work.  I'm sure there's someone out there that knows better than I but this is just my recollection.

Still, there's enough uncertainty about the specifics that one day, someone's grandkids could show up with it all.  Who knows?  

The documentary "Eye of the Beholder" which I watched through Amazon Prime streaming, had a lot of discussion of artwork and a mention of the closing of the Lake Geneva warehouse. It seems when a large metal storage cabinet was moved, stored behind it against the wall were several pieces of artwork including the original Players Handbook Cover. 

Oh wait...you can watch the whole thing on YouTube now: 
 

 

[Bronty]

On 1/24/2022 at 10:11 AM, comix4fun said:

The documentary "Eye of the Beholder" which I watched through Amazon Prime streaming, had a lot of discussion of artwork and a mention of the closing of the Lake Geneva warehouse. It seems when a large metal storage cabinet was moved, stored behind it against the wall were several pieces of artwork including the original Players Handbook Cover. 

Oh wait...you can watch the whole thing on YouTube now: 
 

 

any idea where in the video that discussion might be?

[Bronty]

I used to own a couple covers to D&D video games; long since sold to Matt.  Probably over 10 years ago.

I'll share the image here just for interest's sake.

This is the original for Hillsfar on the Nintendo Entertainment System.   Its a Caldwell.

It was also used as a book cover.

 

[exitmusicblue]

On 1/23/2022 at 9:39 AM, cstojano said:

Ha, this is most certainly a fishing expedition ;)

Lack of replies is telling, not much floating in the marketplace and those holding are clearly smart in not posting lest they want an inbox of inquiries. I remember a few years back someone posted a load of Elmore interiors to the Dragonlance modules on CAF. They were pretty quickly removed (and sold I am told to The Whale).

I think for many who grew up in the 70s and 80s these early, simpler module and rulebook pieces have tremendous nostalgia. Awesome as they are, peak awesome, for me, is the Dragonlance work by Elmore. Willingham's particular black and white interiors were also quite amazing. 

I weep for those lost Elmores, and kick myself for not having been more alert.

Pretty sure any of his Chronicles or Legends covers would hit 6 figures easy at auction.

[exitmusicblue]

On 1/23/2022 at 11:22 AM, -m said:

I have the Gelatinous Cube from Monster Manual 2nd edition, plus a bunch of other monsters, and a Ravenloft cover prelim.

Here's the cube, and I will take a look for some more scans.

 

Ahem, if any are available, I am but a "DM" away...*
 

*Extortionate pricing possible depending on the art.

[cstojano]

On 1/24/2022 at 9:09 PM, exitmusicblue said:

I weep for those lost Elmores, and kick myself for not having been more alert.

Pretty sure any of his Chronicles or Legends covers would hit 6 figures easy at auction.

I think so too. They are "one and done" pieces for me and I am sure many others, so stretching would be worth it. All academic at this point. 

[Varanis]

I'm really happy to own this piece from Ruins of Undermountain. Forgive my comic lingo, but I believe this also might be the 1st or 2nd page Halaster Blackcloak ever appeared on. Please correct me if he appeared in an earlier module / book. I feel really lucky to own this either way.

[comix4fun]

On 1/24/2022 at 9:59 AM, Bronty said:

any idea where in the video that discussion might be?

Just watch the whole thing...it's great.  

Seriously though I can't remember it was over a year ago I watched it. 

 

[Bronty]

On 1/25/2022 at 6:33 PM, comix4fun said:

Just watch the whole thing...it's great.  

Seriously though I can't remember it was over a year ago I watched it. 

 

Ok thanks anyways.

I don’t think I can watch the whole thing.   Too long

[Noob19]

I thought it was great too. Dabbled in D&D when I was young so I enjoyed pretty much the whole thing.

[comix4fun]

On 1/26/2022 at 6:03 AM, Bronty said:

Ok thanks anyways.

I don’t think I can watch the whole thing.   Too long

I planned on watching it again. I'll try to note the time when they hit that topic.